Welcome to HVAC-Talk.com, a non-DIY site and the ultimate Source for HVAC Information & Knowledge Sharing for the industry professional! Here you can join over 150,000 HVAC Professionals & enthusiasts from around the world discussing all things related to HVAC/R. You are currently viewing as a NON-REGISTERED guest which gives you limited access to view discussions

To gain full access to our forums you must register; for a free account. As a registered Guest you will be able to:

Participate in over 40 different forums and search/browse from nearly 3 million posts.

You are standing at the supply house counter, gearing up for an install tomorrow. You say to the counter guy "Give me a 50' roll of 1 1/8" aluminum tubing, a 50' roll of 3/8" aluminum tubing, some elbows and couplings, and a single-use disposable micron gauge."

Thank goodness that I don't have more than about 15 years left (if my body lasts that long.) Most of my tools are old and still going strong. Very little of what I have purchased in the last 10 years lasted more than a year or so. It is a damn shame. I have a set of analogs that is older than some of the members of this forum and I still use them on R22 systems today. They were made with heavy brass and quality gauges. Not the case anymore.

If it's credibility they need, maybe they should make some tools that don't look like cheap shiny plastic toys. That would be a real innovation. How long will it be before our tools are so cheaply made that we consider them consumable truck stock items and have to start billing customers for them?

This is the same stuff everyone else makes, just a different color scheme.

you ain't kidding!!!

i left the auto indusrty, still have all 50k worth of my tools plus another 12k in tool boxes.

i entered the HVAC industry almost ten years ago and have been quite unsatisfied with tools ever since.

at least i enjoy working on my personal vehicles again lol i enjoy holding a quality tool in my hand

I will be 68 in a few weeks. I have tools left from when I was in the automotive field. My truck is older than a lot of members here on the forum.
I replaced a lot of my tools and equipment in December, still have a few to go. I remember the fist Tif digitals. I have a low side gauge that still works, not all that accurate but then it never was. I don't know how many sets of gauges I have. Just bought the Testo 570's and so far so good. My research now says I should have gone with the DC's. Don't know if I have another 10 years left, if I do I expect I will have to retool a few more times to keep up with the ever changing industry.

Originally Posted by meplumber

Thank goodness that I don't have more than about 15 years left (if my body lasts that long.) Most of my tools are old and still going strong. Very little of what I have purchased in the last 10 years lasted more than a year or so. It is a damn shame. I have a set of analogs that is older than some of the members of this forum and I still use them on R22 systems today. They were made with heavy brass and quality gauges. Not the case anymore.

I will be 68 in a few weeks. I have tools left from when I was in the automotive field. My truck is older than a lot of members here on the forum.
I replaced a lot of my tools and equipment in December, still have a few to go. I remember the fist Tif digitals. I have a low side gauge that still works, not all that accurate but then it never was. I don't know how many sets of gauges I have. Just bought the Testo 570's and so far so good. My research now says I should have gone with the DC's. Don't know if I have another 10 years left, if I do I expect I will have to retool a few more times to keep up with the ever changing industry.

I will be 68 in a few weeks. I have tools left from when I was in the automotive field. My truck is older than a lot of members here on the forum.
I replaced a lot of my tools and equipment in December, still have a few to go. I remember the fist Tif digitals. I have a low side gauge that still works, not all that accurate but then it never was. I don't know how many sets of gauges I have. Just bought the Testo 570's and so far so good. My research now says I should have gone with the DC's. Don't know if I have another 10 years left, if I do I expect I will have to retool a few more times to keep up with the ever changing industry.

My local Johnston got the Hilmor Swag, flare and bending kits in today, but the pricing is whack.
$430 for the compact hydraulic swag kit, and it is made in China.
The competitions hydraulic swag tools are also made in china, but cost $100 less, and come with more expander heads.

Due to the superior ease of use design, I may pick up the Hilmor set if the price difference comes down a good bit, but am passing on it for now.

I have heard that Hilmore is sending out a fleet of "sales", trucks to impress the hell out of us. Going to allow us to "trade" up.
Think I will take a pass on that.

I saw a Hilmor truck going down the interstate today. Don't know where it was coming from, I was way up north, it must have been up in Duluth or somewhere else in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota. I haven't heard of any of the wholesalers around here selling it yet.

Something about the Hilmore just doesn't set right. I have the master cool swage kit, it works great but sometimes it would work better if it was not so bulky. I have all the lever type benders but I like the YJ bender. Next on the list is the reverse attachment. wonder if I will ever use it?

Originally Posted by mark beiser

My local Johnston got the Hilmor Swag, flare and bending kits in today, but the pricing is whack.
$430 for the compact hydraulic swag kit, and it is made in China.
The competitions hydraulic swag tools are also made in china, but cost $100 less, and come with more expander heads.

Due to the superior ease of use design, I may pick up the Hilmor set if the price difference comes down a good bit, but am passing on it for now.

Next on the list is the reverse attachment. wonder if I will ever use it?

I use the reverse attachment almost as often as I use the bender without it.
The reverse attachment is a must have for bending a copper stub out from a wall, or bending the suction line into the connections for a coil in a tight closet install.

two supply houses stopped by yesterday with sale ads for it with no prices on it but one saying u can get 10% off of any purchase of their tools and one with 5% off of a total invoice over $750 can be materials mixed in with it. One acted like it was the bees nees and said no one else has anything else like what they have i just shook my head and thought about this thread. Most of it is already out in the field just a different color. He said they do have lifetime warranty on all hand tools and i think 3 years on gauges. Alot of hand tools do have lifetime but most people dont keep the receipts or try to deal with the hassle

When I buy something I etch or paint the date on it, the supplier initials also. Then if there is a problem I just take it back to the supplier and have them look it up. Also paint the date on most all new parts replaced. Another thing is to mark the refrigerant in the system. Paint sticks are handy.

Originally Posted by klee7013

two supply houses stopped by yesterday with sale ads for it with no prices on it but one saying u can get 10% off of any purchase of their tools and one with 5% off of a total invoice over $750 can be materials mixed in with it. One acted like it was the bees nees and said no one else has anything else like what they have i just shook my head and thought about this thread. Most of it is already out in the field just a different color. He said they do have lifetime warranty on all hand tools and i think 3 years on gauges. Alot of hand tools do have lifetime but most people dont keep the receipts or try to deal with the hassle

When I buy something I etch or paint the date on it, the supplier initials also. Then if there is a problem I just take it back to the supplier and have them look it up. Also paint the date on most all new parts replaced. Another thing is to mark the refrigerant in the system. Paint sticks are handy.